The Seattle Sounders received good news Tuesday as an MRI of Eddie Johnson’s left hamstring revealed a strain that shouldn’t sideline the striker past Friday’s playoff opener.

"It's not nearly as bad as we initially thought," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "We wanted to go easy with him today, and then we'll see where he's at tomorrow. ... There's an outside chance (he could play) on Friday, and for sure the second game (on Nov. 8) shouldn't be a problem."

The Sounders (15-8-11) will play Real Salt Lake (17-11-6) in a two-game, home-and-home Western Conference semifinal series. Kickoff Friday is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.

Johnson pulled up late in the first half of Sunday’s loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy, grabbing his left leg before falling to the ground.

“I made a couple of long runs early in the game and (the) hammy kind of tightened up on me,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “My game requires making hard runs behind the back four. I tried to set the defender up, like I was going to come to the ball and check to the right.

“I felt a big cramp in my hamstring. ... I know what that feels like so I was smart, I came out. I didn't try to force it, but there's definitely something there. If I tried to play, I would have been restricted. The smart thing for me to do, what is best for the team, was for me to come out.”

Johnson was replaced by Sammy Ochoa, who has eight goals in MLS, U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League competition and is the likely starter alongside Fredy Montero if Johnson is unable to go Friday. Steve Zakuani also is an option.

Johnson, in his first season with the Sounders following four lackluster years in Europe, has 16 goals in 2012, including 14 in MLS play.

Defender Jeff Parke also left Sunday’s game with hamstring trouble but he told reporters on Tuesday that he expects to play Friday at CenturyLink Field.